title: Low positivity rate after systematic screening for Trichomonas vaginalis in three patient cohorts from general practitioners, STI clinic and a national population-based chlamydia screening study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this multi-cohort study is to investigate the positivity rate of Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) among three distinct Dutch patient populations and its relation with Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) positivity. Few studies have been performed in Europe where TV positivity rate seems to be low. Additionally, the majority of earlier studies have focused on high risk or specific populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  A random selection of men and women from a national population-based chlamydia screening, attendees of a sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinic and a non-selected population from general practitioners (GPs) were systematically screened for TV and CT using PCR. The associations among TV and CT co-infection, age and gender were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 2079 individuals were studied. A TV positivity rate of 1.5% was observed in the medium risk GP cohort followed by 0.7% in the low risk population-based cohort and 0.6% in the high risk STI clinic. TV was found in 0.7% of CT positives and a similar 1.1% among CT negatives. All TV positive individuals in this study were women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The positivity rate of TV was low (<2%) and comparable in all three populations studied. We found no association between TV and CT infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, CAPHRI, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Tanja H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Geelen
authors.forename: Christian J P A
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Hoebe
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dirks
authors.forename: Nicole H T M
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Dukers-Muijrers
authors.forename: Jan E A M
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: van Bergen
authors.forename: Petra F G
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Wolffs
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D002692:Chlamydia trachomatis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015331:Cohort Studies; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D058006:General Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D014245:Trichomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D014246:Trichomonas vaginalis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Chlamydia Trachomatis; Epidemiology (CLINICAL); Pcr; Trichomonas